What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 120
- nutrients checked
- 12
This shows what soil in this area tends to be like. Your own field can be different. Get it tested at a soil testing lab before deciding.
Nutrient by nutrient
-
Nitrogen
PoorLow 98% Medium 2%
Almost every soil test here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more urea than the usual dose, in two or three splits. A pulse crop in rotation also adds nitrogen.
What this means
Grows leaves and stems. Short soil gives pale, yellow leaves.
Low under 280 kg/ha Medium 280–560 kg/ha High over 560 kg/haHealthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 98% 2% 0% Tumsar 93% 7% 0% Bhandara 92% 8% 0% Maharashtra 86% 13% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 50% Medium 45% High 5%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.
What this means
Builds roots and helps the crop flower and fill grain.
Low under 10 kg/ha Medium 10–25 kg/ha High over 25 kg/haHealthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 50% 45% 5% Tumsar 51% 37% 12% Bhandara 46% 46% 8% Maharashtra 22% 53% 25% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodMedium 20% High 80%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less potash than usual.
What this means
Fills grain and fruit, and helps crops stand drought and disease.
Low under 110 kg/ha Medium 110–280 kg/ha High over 280 kg/haHealthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 0% 20% 80% Tumsar 3% 25% 72% Bhandara 1% 25% 74% Maharashtra 4% 29% 66% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 45% Medium 37% High 18%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.
What this means
Shows how much organic matter the soil has. It keeps soil loose, holds water and feeds the crop slowly.
Low under 0.5% Medium 0.5–0.75% High over 0.75%Healthy soil has 0.5% or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 45% 37% 18% Tumsar 42% 30% 28% Bhandara 45% 28% 27% Maharashtra 55% 25% 20% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
OkayAcidic 29% Neutral 71%
3 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
If your field is acidic: add agricultural lime before sowing. A soil lab works out how much your field needs.
What this means
How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.
Acidic Neutral AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 29% 71% 0% Tumsar 6% 94% 0% Bhandara 7% 93% 0% Maharashtra 2% 95% 2% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 100%
Almost no soil tests here came out salty
What this means
Salt in the soil, shown as EC on the card. Salt makes it hard for roots to drink.
Not salty SaltyUnder 1 dS/m is fine. Above 4 harms most crops.
Compared with the wider area Place Not salty Salty Here 100% 0% Tumsar 100% 0% Bhandara 100% 0% Maharashtra 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
OkayShort 33% Enough 68%
3 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: use single super phosphate instead of DAP, or add about 100 kg of gypsum per acre before sowing.
What this means
Makes oil in oilseeds and protein in pulses.
Short under 10 ppm Enough 10 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 10 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 33% 68% Tumsar 21% 79% Bhandara 19% 81% Maharashtra 54% 46% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 11% Enough 89%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
What this means
Needed for growth and healthy leaves. Rice and wheat often run short.
Short under 0.6 ppm Enough 0.6 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 11% 89% Tumsar 18% 82% Bhandara 24% 76% Maharashtra 52% 48% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodEnough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
What this means
Keeps young leaves green.
Short under 4.5 ppm Enough 4.5 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Tumsar 11% 89% Bhandara 20% 80% Maharashtra 59% 41% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodEnough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
What this means
Helps the crop set seed and resist disease.
Short under 0.2 ppm Enough 0.2 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Tumsar 0% 100% Bhandara 1% 99% Maharashtra 4% 96% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodEnough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
What this means
Helps leaves make food from sunlight.
Short under 2 ppm Enough 2 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Tumsar 0% 100% Bhandara 2% 98% Maharashtra 12% 88% India 13% 87% -
Boron
OkayShort 47% Enough 53%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 4 kg of borax per acre into the soil before sowing.
What this means
Needed for flowers to set seed and fruit.
Short under 0.5 ppm Enough 0.5 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 47% 53% Tumsar 58% 42% Bhandara 53% 47% Maharashtra 45% 55% India 45% 55%
Fixes are the usual advice. Your Soil Health Card or nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra gives the exact dose for your field.
Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2024-25. 120 samples.
Climate in Bhandara
Rain
About 1,250 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,080 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 43 °C, nights 28 °C
Coolest in December: days about 29 °C, nights 13 °C.
Typical of the district's villages; a farm much higher or lower can be a few degrees cooler or warmer.
Source: IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°); TerraClimate 1991–2020 temperature normals (about 4 km), where each district's villages are.